This problem is caused by game versions that were updated incorrectly. There is v1.0.3 out, but that only fixed some windows 10 compatibility issues.

If you have this problem:

From Steam: Use "verify integrity of game cache".From GoG: Redownload the base version of the game and use 'check for updates' from the main menu.From the bay of booty: Get yourself a torrent from someone that didn't screw up the update process. Or just buy the game.

GamersGate just sells steam keys, it's only GoG that has a non-steam version, though either version is of course DRM-free.

I'm sure there's at least one, possibly multiple, torrents out there where the uploader screwed up the update and broke saves this exact way. Don't know why they can't seem to get Star Ruler right, the SR1 torrents all had various hilarious problems as well.

Oh, I know - I actually wound up telling an ABEM player that he'd have to get a better torrent or just buy the game outright when it turned out he had a version of the game that was too old to run the mod. He bought the game.

On the bright side, at least we're not seeing anyone with Early Access builds... I hope...